Status indicator and reminder system for vehicle temporary mobility kit

Abstract

A status indicator and reminder system for use with a vehicle having a tire sealant-containing temporary mobility kit is provided. The system includes a signal provided for viewing by the operator which indicates that the temporary mobility kit requires servicing. The need for servicing can be based on certain variables, including the passage of a pre-determined period of time or on changes in temperature which may impact the effective life of the sealing compound. In addition, the need for servicing can be based on a sensed of the temporary mobility kit from the vehicle.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A status indicator and reminder system for use with a vehicle having a fitting for a tire sealant-containing temporary mobility kit, the system comprising:
 a tire sealant-containing temporary mobility kit finable within the vehicle; 
 an indicator; 
 a timer generating a time signal corresponding to a time duration said temporary mobility kit has been in position in the vehicle; 
 a controller coupled to said indicator and said timer, said controller generating a service warning signal in response to said time signal, said controller controlling said indicator in response to said timer signal. 
 
     
     
       2. The status indicator and reminder system of  claim 1  further including a temperature sensor generating a temperature profile, said controller generating said service warning signal also in response to said temperature profile. 
     
     
       3. The status indicator and reminder system of  claim 2  further indicating a feedback system to determine if said tire sealant-containing temporary mobility kit has been removed from the vehicle, said feedback system being operatively associated with said controller, said feedback system generating a signal when said tire sealant-containing temporary mobility kit has been removed from the vehicle. 
     
     
       4. The status indicator and reminder system of  claim 3  wherein said feedback system includes a docking system, said docking system including a kit receiving recessed area and a conduit and wherein said tire sealant-containing temporary mobility kit includes a conduit, said conduit of said docking system and said conduit of said tire sealant containing temporary mobility kit being matable when said tire sealant-containing temporary mobility kit is positioned at least partially within said kit receiving recessed arca. 
     
     
       5. The status indicator and reminder system of  claim 4  wherein at least one of said conduits includes a shorting bar. 
     
     
       6. The status indicator and reminder system of  claim 1  wherein said indicator comprises and audible or visual indicator. 
     
     
       7. A method of operating a monitoring system for a temporary mobility kit of a vehicle comprising:
 forming a status indicator and reminder system comprising a tire sealant-containing temporary mobility kit fittable within the vehicle, an indicator, a timer generating a time signal corresponding to a time duration said temporary mobility kit has been in position in the vehicle, and a controller coupled to said indicator and said timer, said controller generating a service warning signal in response to said time signal, said controller controlling said indicator in response to said timer signal; 
 generating a time duration signal corresponding to a time said temporary mobility kit has been in position in the vehicle; and 
 generating a signal in response to said time duration signal. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7  further including adding a temperature sensor for generating a temperature profile to said system, said controller generating said service warning signal also in response to said temperature profile. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8  further including generating a temperature profile signal and amending said time duration as may be needed in response to said temperature profile signal. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 7  further including adding a feedback system to said system, said feedback system generating a signal when said tire sealant-containing temporary mobility kit has been removed from the vehicle. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10  wherein said feedback system includes a docking system, said docking system including a kit receiving recessed area and a conduit and wherein said tire sealant-containing temporary mobility kit includes a conduit, said conduit of said docking system and said conduit of said tire sealant-containing temporary mobility kit being matable when said tire sealant-containing temporary mobility kit is positioned at least partially within said kit receiving recessed area. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11  wherein at least one of said conduits includes a shorting bar. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 7  wherein said indicator comprises and audible or visual indicator. 
     
     
       14. A method of operating a monitoring system for a tire sealant-containing temporary mobility kit of a vehicle comprising:
 programming a controller in the system to send a service signal to an indicator based on the passage of time; 
 comparing the amount of time the temporary mobility kit has been in the vehicle compared with the programmed time in the controller; 
 generating a service signal in the controller based on the comparison of the amount of time the temporary mobility kit has been in the vehicle and the programmed time. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14  further including the steps of programming a controller in the system to modify the generation of the service signal based upon ambient temperature and modifying the generation of the service signal as may he needed. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 14  including the step of re-setting the system after the service signal has been sent. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 14  including the steps of determining if the temporary mobility kit has been removed from the vehicle and generating a service signal in the controller based on said determination. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17  including the step of re-setting the system after the service signal has been sent. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 16  including the step of providing a docking system operatively associated with said system into which the temporary mobility kit may be removably placed. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 14  further including the steps of programming a controller in the system to modify the generation of the service signal based upon ambient temperature and modifying the generation of the service signal as may be needed and determining if the temporary mobility kit has been removed from the vehicle and generating a service signal based on said determination.